Dictionary
rat•line
Pronunciation: (rat'lin), [key]—
n. Naut.
1. any of the small ropes or lines that traverse the shrouds horizontally and serve as steps for going aloft.
2. Also,rat'line stuff'.three-stranded, right-laid, tarred hemp stuff of from 6 to 24 threads, used for ratlines, lashings, etc.
Also,rat'lin.Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.